Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-19
ROME UNDER NERO.
The fffth Annual Celebration of the Order
of Ciucinnztus-
H...I.-..l..

ErchGng,.
Last year the 0n'er Of Cincinnatus de-
parted from its previous custom in its year
ly celebrations, and instead of the usual
mystic street parade, it presented the Bib
licai-historical representation, The Fall
Of Babylon" the phenomenal success of
which is well remembered by the one hun
dr-d thousand people who witnessed il.
Encouraged by the success of its efforts
to please the public of Cincinnati and
vicinity, the last embers OF burning Baby
Ion had scarcely died out when work was
commenced for 1881, and now, after ten
months of research and labor by the men,
bers Of this enterprisiDg and pnblic-spirited
organization and Its artists and designers,
a spectacle will be presented this year that
We are enabled TO say, after seeing the work
nearly finished, has never been equalled in
this country or abroad in holiness Of con-
ception, nlagnifcence Of scenery, and cor
rectness of detail and design. The subject
chosen Is Rome Under Nero"
The place for the representation is the
old Union Base Ball grounds, foot Of Bank
street, now known as the Campus. A new
covered pavilion has been erected which
contains over twelve thousand seats, and
every seat is a comfortable chair. The
stage runs across the entire grounds,
about two hundred feet from the audience;
is four hundred and twelve feet in length,
and two hundred and sixty feet deep.
When the audience is assembled on the
evening Of August LIST, they will be con-
fronted by the city of Rome at a time when
all the world paid her tribute. The paint
ing of the scenery is so wonderfully real
istic in color and perspective that it will
not be difficult for the spectator TO imag-
inc himself carried back over eighteen
hundred years. The buildings, palaces,
arches, temples, columns, statues, Cata
combs, towers, bridges, aqueducts, streets,
and passages are all rs nearly historically
correct As the vast resources aud
experience of the Order of CincinnatuS can
make them. Nor is this all, for as the &C
tion of the representation progresses the
scenes change, disclosing the Forum Ro-
manum, later the front OF the Circus Max
linus, then the Grand Palace OF the En-
peror Nero, then the Circus MaXimus
opens, disclosing a sheet of water with i'm
mense ships in active hattie, and still
again the Arena is presented with may
nifcent perspective, arrayed for holiday
OF the people OF Rome. This, with the
burning aud destruction of the city
in the last act, will make the spectator
uity displayed rs at the artistic excellence
of the scenery.
Now a few words about the action Of the
play, If it may 81 he called, for it is histOr-
ical-biblical, spectacular, operate, and
military at times As it develops, and COM
prises. after the opening, an election OF
cOnsuls and a not, camp scene, fes-
tiyal, sacrifice, a tnumphal procession,
4 palace scene, bacchanalin feast, with
dances, chorus and drill, naval combat.
chariot races, gladiatOrial combats, ath-
letic games, persecution and burning of
Christians. the burning and destruction ci
the city, closing withar allegory represent
lug the dawn of Christianity, thus bring
ing Ia an end the most gorgeous and real
istlc spectacle ever presented in modern
times.
The number Of characters and accesso-
rits necessary TO a faithful representation
OF Rome under Nero il one thousand three
hundred and sixty, all correctly cnstumed
and equipped, snd over hundred electric
lights are used 10 illuminate the scenery.
The first performance will be given Oh
the evening of August lSt, and contiu1c
nightly for week or more Not man,
woman or child who reads this should
TAIL TO see Rome under Nero" and see
it early while everything Is bright aud
fresh.
The Order will soon publish an illus
trated lbretto of forty pages, giving un
exhaustive account of the performance.